Someone just moved into the house next door yesterday. It’s been vacant since we moved in last year. They’re the family type. And I mean family. We aren’t sure yet just how many of them there are, but I think they have 6 kids. This is not good.

My recent trip to NYC was one of the best times I have ever had. At some point of every day since, I have been sad to be home. I want to live that week over and over and over again. My company was perfect. The weather was perfect. Everything was just right.

I started off the amazing vacation by attending Björk’s United Palace show with James and Kevin. It was outstanding! The theatre was absolutely stunning, covered in gold from floor to ceiling. Our seats were perfect, right in the center.

Konono Nº1 opened the show. I was especially excited to see them live, and they didn’t let me down. They were so fun and energetic and cute. They stuck around to play Earth Intruders as well.

The Björk set was the usual wonderfulness. Antony came out and guested on Dull Flame Of Desire and Min Xiao-Fen was there to play the pipa on I See Who You Are. The version of Hyperballad playing on this tour is THE BEST! THE BEST! THE BEST!, and even though the song still cheeses me out, the encore of Declare Independence got everyone out of their seats.

You can still listen to the whole show here, courtesy of NPR.

1. Cover Me
2. Earth Intruders
3. Hunter
4. Immature
5. Dull Flame Of Desire
6. Oceania
7. I See Who You Are
8. Pleasure Is All Mine
9. Pagan Poetry
10. Bachelorette
11. Army Of Me
12. Innocence
13. Wanderlust
14. Hyperballad
15. Pluto
    -encore-
16. Declare Incepencence

After the show we hit up the Rated X Panty Party, which wasn’t nearly as debaucherous as it sounds (unfortunately). But I got to drink lots of free vodka and meet some of NYC’s finest party boys AND I was reunited with my Nora (and got to meet her super nice friend, Byron - who is unequivocally tall).

After all that madness, we still managed to go home and have a drunken (read: super fun) song and dance party ’til the sun came up and we decided we’d better call it quits.

The next day we celebrated Seis de Mayo at El Cantinero, our fave mexican spot. They hooked us up with free shots, we downed delicious margaritas, and chowed down on yummy mexican fare. What a way to start the day.

Afterwards we tromped around St Mark’s place for a bit and then met up with Nora and Byron at the Beauty Bar. Somehow we entered a time warp there and ended up drinking the night away, oblivious to it all. When we finally made it home, we watched some old lady give sex advice on public access TV before we all passed out.

On Monday Kevin had to return to the working world, so James and I walked all over the city doing what we do best - spending money. I got lots of fun presents for people, and lots of fun presents for myself.

We met up with Nora that night and had Ethiopian for dinner. It was a BYOB establishment, so Nora picked up a bottle of wine on her way. It apparently went straight to my cheeks. The injera there was the stickiest ever and we spent the night licking our fingers clean. Man, it was good.

We started the next day again with Mexican. I don’t remember the name of where we went this time, somewhere midtown. They had a super yum margarita menu, and even caipirinhas, but the cutie waitress didn’t know how to make those so I stuck to margies. We ordered tamales, but unfortunately the were out of the vegetarian ones. Damn.

After lunch we spotted the cutest little doggie butt.

James and I did a little more shopping, hit up Other Music for the new releases. Walked through Central Park, picking up twigs and stones for Jared. Then it was on to “The World Famous Apollo Theater” for another night of Björk.

The security at The Apollo was really annoying, and we kept getting in trouble for standing up and dancing, but the show was excellent.

Spank Rock opened, and they were just as cute as can be. Antony and Min Xiao-Fen were there again as guests, too.

By the end of the show, the energy was so high. Enough people finally stood up to dance that the security just caved in and let us go at it.

No recordings have popped up from that show yet, so I just have to keep that one in my memory. Here’s the setlist:

1. Cover Me
2. Earth Intruders
3. Venus As A Boy
4. Aurora
5. Dull Flame Of Desire
6. Immature
7. I See Who You Are
8. Pleasure Is All Mine
9. All Is Full Of Love
10. Jóga
11. Bachelorette
12. Army Of Me
13. Innocence
14. Wanderlust
15. Hyperballad
16. Pluto
    -encore-
17. Oceania
18. Declare Independence

We walked back to James’s afterwards and spent a quiet evening at home, drinking wine and eating hummus.

James had to go back to work Wednesday so I was on my own. I went and saw Hot Fuzz. Loved it! Got some hazelnut gelato from a cute little corner store. Bought some art from Union Square for my momma. Stopped by Forbidden Planet. Had lunch at Whole Foods. Just killing time.

I met up with James briefly when he got off work and then headed to the airport. I lucked out when I got there and was able to switch to an earlier flight, so I only had to hang out there for about a half hour.

It’s always nice to come home, but I’m already ready to go back! I miss you!

Theresa and I got food poisoning. Yuck-o.

ps - Anne, your message was classic. I saved it.

Happy Birthday, Gillian!
Til Hemingju Með Ammaelið

1. Tom Hagerman - Twice Told Tale
2. Émilie Simon - Swimming
3. Spank Rock - Put That Pussy On Me (Diplo Tonite Remix)
4. The Knife - Pass This On
5. Björk - The Dull Flame Of Desire
6. CocoRosie - By Your Side
7. Au Revoir Simone - The Lucky One
8. Willy Mason - World That I Wanted
9. Roger O’Donnell - Treasure
10. Federico Aubele - Malena
11. Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra - Song for David
12. Wax Tailor - To Dry Up (feat Charlotte Savary)
13. The Sugarcubes - Ammæli (Live - 2006 Reunion Concert)

Listen Here

1. CocoRosie - Noah’s Ark
2. Björk - Innocence
3. Spank Rock - Backyard Betty
4. Subtitle - Seventies Western Crime Scene Pt. 1
5. Wax Tailor - The Way We Lived
6. Luz Mob - The Selecter
7. Émilie Simon - I Wanna Be Your Dog
8. Aesop Rock - None Shall Pass
9. Daedelus - Dumbfound (EDIT Remix)
10. Busdriver - New Aquarium
11. Busdriver - Imaginary Places
12. Konono Nº1 - Kule Kule
13. Balkan Beat Box - Pachima
14. Beirut - Scenic world (Version)
15. DeVotchKa - Charlotte Mittnacht (The Fabulous Destiny Of…)

Listen Here

Dead fawn, dressed like baby, left outside Tacoma theater

{ uploaded by iso.bot }

This was right after the Björk show at Apollo, so in love.

I just want you all to know that I am having the best of times here in NYC. My excitement level is through the roof.

I’ve seen Björk perform an awesome show. I finally got to meet Kevin. Michelle, one of my surrogate moms, was in town, and I haven’t seen her in a decade. I’ve been able to hug and kiss James every moment of the day. We ate (and got drunk) at El Cantiñero (they hooked us up with free shots). I’ve seen Nora everyday and got to meet her great friend Byron, who makes me feel short and self conscious. I got to buy cute presents for the people that I love so immensely. I got cute presents for myself. I’ve eaten Ethiopian food. We’re seeing Björk again tomorrow. I’m just so in love right now I could burst.